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Introduction:

Europe is the smallest continent, continent understood as a geographical entity of 
nations and cultures, and is a special continent with a high density of small nations. 
Historically it is an old continent with its roots back in the Antique era. According to 
a legend from ancient GreekEuropeit isthe name of a Phoenician princess kidnapped 
and brought to the Island of Crete in today&acute;s Greek. The Roman empire, the 
diversity of tribes, the Christian church, the Moors, various political entities have 
later in their different ways contributed to make this legend to a concept and a 
reality, politically, culturally and geographically. Today the EU comprises most of 
the European nations, but not all. The boundaries to out-side Europe are still 
discussed, and they can differ whether talking about politics, history, culture/religion 
and geography. 
 
Mainland Europe is situated in the temperate climate zone influenced by the Atlantic 
ocean with the Gulf stream providing reasonable temperatures and precipitation. 
Together withbig plains with mainly good soil this isproviding conditions quite good 
for a reliable agricultural economy.Compared to its area, and compared with other 
continents, Europe has a relatively long coastline. Waterways are at hand many 
places and transport on water has been the wayfor people to communicate, trade and 
to migratefor thousands of years. There are only few big mountain ranges making 
communication difficult, only few volcanoes and earthquakes, no deserts, only few 
occasions with severe droughts and famine, waterways suitable for traffic etc. This is 
seen relatively and compared to other parts of the world. 
 
The specific geographical features in Europehas made it favourable for people to 
make a living here.In every corner of the continent there have been conditions for a 
living for human beings. The Alps and the Pyrenees have though led to a difference 
in conditions near the Mediterranean sea compared with the rest of Europe. During 
time this has been confirmed by the many invasions and migrations from especially 
Central Asia where the physical and climatic conditions can make life much more 
vulnerable. Europe has through history operated like an oasis for neighbouring 
people due to the physical, geographical conditions mentioned above.In this way the 
geographical features have shown their importance as the fundament for how people 
can and do organize their living and their societies. 
 
Today mankind can deal with and change the physical environment with 
comprehensive traffic corridors, tunnels, canals, bridges, pipe lines, dams, irrigation 
in big scale, harbours etc., and in this way make up for physical and geographical 
hindrances and maybe also unfavourable climate conditions which we still can not 
master. The distribution of resources, and maybe wealth, is today easier, migrations 
are easier so people can go where living seems more convenient. Mankind has now 
so big impact on the geographical features that it is a question of how to take care of 
them, maybe preserve them in a sustainable way in order to hand them over to the 
generations to come. Environmental issues and climatic issues are play a vital role at 
the international agenda, and there are discussions and conflicts about to which 
degree and quality they should be dealt with. 
 
The geographical features and resources have historically to a big extent been 
decisive for where and how human life has developed at a given place. The question 
today is more and more how the human production and way of life influence, 
eventually destroy, the once given geographical features and resources, features that 
e.g. have given Europe so many advantages historically in many ways.This task is to 
investigatethe physical Europe and draw the lines to the life of the Europeans.

Directive:

Read the introduction and the questions and make clear the overall aim of the task. 
Read the files. Use additional sources if you find it beneficial. The origin of 
additional sources must be noted for control. 
 
Products: 
1. Make a lively presentation for your team about the issues mentioned below and 
make a conclusion about the geographical features and their importance for the kind 
of development Europe has gone through. 
Include the issues mentioned below. 
 
2. Write 2 pages with your answers and arguments referring to the title of the task 
and the issues mention below. 
 
Issues to include: 
1. What is the overall characteristic of the climate in Europe, and what are the 
main regional differences between the western, eastern and southern Europe. 
 
2. What are the most important oceans, lakes, rivers, mountain ranges and other 
significant natural features in Europe, and what has been their role in the 
physical and social development of the current Europe? 
 
3. How are the overall conditions for agriculture in Europe, and what are the 
main regional differences? 
 
4. What are the main natural resources in Europe, and how are they taken care 
of? How is Europe&acute;s potential in relation to other parts of the world? 
 
5. Make your proposals on why the density of the European population is 
distributed the way it is. What could be the reasons? 
 
6. How has the geographical basic structures influenced the physical 
infrastructure of Europe with the foundation of big cities, harbours, industrial 
conglomerations, traffic corridors etc.? 
 
7. How are the geographical features and resources taken care of in Europe? 
What are the developments and perspectives?

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